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Short answer: you should not need to run a RPVOT on new oil if it is supplied by a reputable vendor.

For batch shipments of new oil, your supplier should be able to provide you with a Certificate of Analysis (COA).
Before the oil is accepted by your facility, you should sample the oil, drawn from the middle of the tote if possible, to check the viscosity and crackle test for moisture. If the viscosity and crackle tests meet your parameters then the oil should be safe to accept for usage. Sample should be retained for future reference if problems do develop.
Running a particle count at that time may be a waste depending on how long the oil has been in the tote and any particles allowed to settle out. I will assume that the oil will be filtered as it is dispensed from the tote, so a particle count can be run then to get a reference ISO count.

For new oil shipments we have an agreement with our suppliers:
1. All oil must be in origional factory sealed drum.
2. All drums must have factory applied labels stating batch number and date of manufacture.
3. No drums over 3 years old will be accepted.
4. No damaged drums will be accepted.
5. No repackaged drums will be accepted.
6. Drums must pass viscosity and crackle tests.
Any oils that do not meet this criteria are rejected and returned to the vendor for replacement. This has worked well for us, and ensures we are getting what we pay for.
Hi Hal

Thanks for the sharing.
Since the RPVOT is not recommended, how do you make your baseline value for monitoring the oxidation.

To share with, recently i have receive new oil sample in bulk container and we detected there is different in the color which is more darker and someone guessing that there is varnish build up.we receive 2 batch from 22 ibc ,(see attach 2 batch sample)
Usually , we receive new oil in crystal clear color.
We have reported to the supplier and awaiting their findings .

This issue have make me think on our current practice for new oil check.
The lab test show acceptable viscosity and KF water content level, and only slight high value on the acid no.
The particle count quite high but as you were saying before, it can be filter out.

I just wondering if anyone have facing issues with new oil.

Attachments

Images (1)
  • May_GT_Lube_oil_new_oil_2_batch
Hi Miz

Any new bulk oil shipments are sampled and sent to an independent analysis lab for FTIR and full spectrographic analysis. This is used as the base line for the batch. The load is isolated until results are returned and evaluated. Results can be compared to published product data sheets also.

We encountered a cross contamination issue once that was caused by an improper flush procedure, allowing a previous oil delivery to remain in the tanker trucks hose and pump. The sample drawn was darker in color and the viscosity - while still in ISO range - was at the higher limit. Further investigation revealed that it would take at least 25 gallons of oil to flush the tankers system properly to prevent cross contamination.
Hi Miz,

I would ask the supplier to check the batch number of the IBC. Oils can be photo sensitive -especially if stored in clear IBC containers - that is it darkens in sunlight especially if the container has been stored outdoors either for a long period of time or exposed to high heat. The batch number and the date of manufacture should be checked with the supplier. Also a sample analysed should be compared to the manufactured QC specs. Change in additive can also affect the colour especially light coloured oils such as turbine oils. Variations in colour of additive batches can also affect the final colour of finished oil product. In any cases, assurance should be sought and given by the supplier.
quote:
Originally posted by miz@l:
Hi

Seeking advice

For new oil lube oil batch receive, is it require to test RPVOT to confirm oil quality.
Basically the data specification only mention viscocity.Since the RPVOT test quite costly..

Thanks


Hi there,

Several months passed since your last post, and it would be interesting to know the outcome regarding the discrepancy of colors of the two new oil batches you mentioned.

Data specs of new lube oil that I've seen (and I've seen many) contain the RPVOT value info. The cost of RPVOT analysis is irrelevant here, because it is established and well known for a certain blending recipe, if it is not changed from one delivery to the next. Of course, I say this after assuming that your supplier is a respectable company. Even a great majority of small "mom-pop" type of blenders don't change blending ingredients of their final product if it is not specifically requested by the customer. And if they do change it, they would retest the RPVOT because they know (or should know) that the final product will not be identical to anything previously blended.

I also don't see the reason why you try to avoid the expense for testing RPVOT of the delivered oil, because the cost of approx. $400 is negligent compared to the price of the new oil bought/delivered, and possible costly consequences for the equipment and unscheduled downtime if the oil is not what it's supposed to be. This reminds me of a case where someone tried to save $50 by prolonging oil change interval on own car, while putting into jeopardy $30,000 value of the car. IMO, not a good way to save money.

Regarding the difference in color of two new oils (and different TAN), if it would be up to me, this discrepancy would immediately raise a red flag, and I would request compatibility testing (at least Tier 1 test of the ASTM D 7155) at an independent commercial lab before this oil is mixed with the rest at the site. Also, I would be thinking of changing the supplier, too.

Also, FTIR oxidation data, although cheaper to generate, is not interchangeable and compatible in any way with RPVOT test, which was always (and still is) used as a benchmark data for oxidation stability of the lube oils.
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